The Ultimate Book Hugger's Guide Read online

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2018 by Christopher Colfer

  Illustrations copyright © 2018 by Brandon Dorman

  Cover art copyright © 2018 by Brandon Dorman

  Cover design by Sasha Illingworth

  Cover copyright © 2018 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Little, Brown and Company

  Hachette Book Group

  1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104

  Visit us at LBYR.com

  First Edition: October 2018

  Little, Brown and Company is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. The Little, Brown name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  ISBNs: 978-0-316-52330-1 (hardcover), 978-0-316-52331-8 (ebook), 978-0-316-52644-9 (int’l), 978-0-316-42248-2 (Barnes & Noble Black Friday)

  E3-20180921-JV-PC

  CONTENTS

  COVER

  TITLE PAGE

  COPYRIGHT

  DEDICATION

  INTRODUCTION

  WHO’S WHO IN THE LAND OF STORIES

  PLACES TO GO

  CONNER’S SHORT STORIES

  TRINKETS, TREASURES, AND ENCHANTMENTS

  BONUS CHAPTERS

  GOOSE/COLFER: THE INTERVIEW OF A LIFETIME

  CHRIS’S SECRETS FROM THE LAND OF STORIES

  BEHIND THE SCENES: THE ART OF THE LAND OF STORIES

  FAN ART

  FROM CHRIS’S DESK

  CHRIS’S TOP TEN TIPS FOR WRITERS (WHICH HE’S STILL LEARNING)

  CONCLUSION

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  To Heather, for guiding my reality so I can live in a fairy-tale world. This one’s for you!

  INTRODUCTION

  Hello, readers from around the globe, and welcome to The Land of Stories: The Ultimate Book Hugger’s Guide!

  Whether you’re new to the Land of Stories series or you’ve read each book a dozen times, this guide will tell you everything you’ll need to know to become an official Book Hugger.

  We’ll review everything about Alex and Conner Bailey, their colorful friends and family, the magical creatures they encounter, the enchanted places they explore, and all the evildoers they overcome.

  Warning—this guide may contain some spoilers of the Bailey twins’ adventures through the fairy-tale world and beyond. So if you like to be surprised, please put this book in a safe place until you’re ready.

  Otherwise, sit back, relax, and enjoy your journey through the Land of Stories!

  WHO’S WHO in the LAND of STORIES

  HEROES

  ALEX BAILEY

  Alex is a young woman who is wise beyond her years. As a child, she had a thirst for knowledge and read every book she could get her hands on. Unfortunately, Alex was often teased at school for her intelligence, and it was difficult for her to make friends. She spent the majority of her early days feeling misunderstood and lonely.

  However, all that changes during her adventures in the Land of Stories. Thanks to Alex’s cleverness, she and her brother, Conner, are able to save the fairy-tale world on many different occasions. Her wisdom is celebrated, and she grows from an underappreciated teacher’s pet to a confident world leader.

  SPECIES: Human/fairy

  BIRTHPLACE: The Otherworld

  OCCUPATION: Student/leader of the Happily Forever After Assembly

  TRADEMARK: Intelligence

  NEVER WITHOUT: A plan

  CONNER BAILEY

  Conner is a creative and funny young man—and although he wouldn’t admit it, he has a very big heart. During his childhood, Conner struggled in school. He thought the classroom was a great place to take naps and practice new jokes, but he never thought it would help him put his imagination to good use.

  After some encouragement from his teacher, Mrs. Peters, Conner begins writing short stories and discovers he has a knack for storytelling—and luckily, he discovers it just in time! Thanks to his imaginative writing, Conner and his sister are able to recruit an army of his characters and save both worlds from a sinister plot.

  SPECIES: Human/fairy

  BIRTHPLACE: The Otherworld

  OCCUPATION: Student/future author

  TRADEMARK: Imagination

  NEVER WITHOUT: A joke

  THE FAIRY GODMOTHER

  The Fairy Godmother is the Bailey twins’ grandmother and the leader of the fairy-tale world. She is known for her compassionate heart and powerful magic—everything from granting poor maidens’ wishes, to slaying fire-breathing dragons. The Fairy Godmother is the founder of the Happily Ever After Assembly, which peacefully unites the leaders of all the kingdoms and territories.

  The Fairy Godmother was the first person from the Land of Stories to discover our world, and she named it the Otherworld. When she first arrived, the Otherworld was in a dark period of war and famine. By spreading the stories of the fairy-tale world into ours, she and the other fairies inspired several generations to be brave, to believe in themselves, and to be kind to one another, and introduced them to the joys of a “happily ever after.”

  SPECIES: Fairy

  BIRTHPLACE: The Charming Kingdom

  OCCUPATION: Leader of the Happily Ever After Assembly

  TRADEMARK: Compassion

  NEVER WITHOUT: A wand

  PRINCE CHARLIE “FROGGY” CHARMING

  Froggy is the youngest prince in the Charming Dynasty and was cursed to look like a frog when he was a young man. Fearing that his family would never accept him, Froggy ran into the forest and lived in hiding for many years. It’s in the forest that Froggy first meets the Bailey twins, and if it wasn’t for his kindness, Alex and Conner would have never found their way home.

  The Bailey twins become Froggy’s closest friends, and he is always eager to join their various quests to save the fairy-tale world. During their very first escapade, Froggy meets the future love of his life, Queen Red Riding Hood. After Queen Red loses her throne, the people of her kingdom elect Froggy as their new king. Even though Froggy has the opportunity to change back into a human, he decides his amphibian form suits him best.

  SPECIES: Human turned amphibian

  BIRTHPLACE: The Charming Kingdom

  OCCUPATION: Recluse/king

  TRADEMARK: Helpfulness

  NEVER WITHOUT: Lily pad tea

  QUEEN RED RIDING HOOD

  People’s first impression of Queen Red Riding Hood is that she’s a selfish, misguided, materialistic, and naïve young woman—and she is—but beneath all the diamond necklaces is a heart of gold. She always means well but rarely knows what she means.

  After her childhood encounter with the Big Bad Wolf, Red was elected queen of her own kingdom. She lived an extravagant and pampered lifestyle until meeting the Bailey twins—then Red is thrown into one life-threatening situation after another. But with every passing obstacle, more of Red’s selflessness, sensibility, and compassion shine through—or a
t least, that’s what she thinks.

  SPECIES: Human

  BIRTHPLACE: The Center Kingdom (formerly part of the Northern Kingdom)

  OCCUPATION: Queen

  TRADEMARK: Misguidedness

  NEVER WITHOUT: A tiara

  GOLDILOCKS

  Goldilocks is a strong and willful woman with unlimited courage. There is no opponent she can’t outsmart or outfight—which comes in handy during her adventures with the Bailey twins.

  After her scandal with the Three Bears, Goldilocks was labeled a young vandal in her village. She ran away from home and has been a wanted fugitive ever since. However, we soon learn that Goldilocks was tricked into going to the home of the Three Bears and that her story isn’t what it seems.

  SPECIES: Human

  BIRTHPLACE: The Center Kingdom (formerly part of the Northern Kingdom)

  OCCUPATION: Thief/vigilante

  TRADEMARK: Courage

  NEVER WITHOUT: A sword

  JACK

  After climbing a beanstalk and slaying a giant, Jack became famous throughout the kingdoms for his bravery. However, the bravest act of his life wasn’t slaying a giant, but following his heart. Jack decides to give up his heroic reputation and the chance to be Queen Red Riding Hood’s king to be with the woman he loves.

  Jack and Goldilocks enjoy a life on the run and come out of hiding only when the twins need their help.

  Eventually, Jack and Goldilocks are married and start a family. Their first child is a boy whom they strategically name Hero so that their son will always be the hero of his own story.

  SPECIES: Human

  BIRTHPLACE: The Center Kingdom (formerly part of the Northern Kingdom)

  OCCUPATION: Hero/vigilante

  TRADEMARK: Bravery

  NEVER WITHOUT: An axe

  MOTHER GOOSE

  Mother Goose is a sassy, flask-sipping, sharp-tongued old lady who’s infamous for starting trouble in every dimension she enters. While helping the Fairy Godmother spread fairy tales in the Otherworld, Mother Goose rubbed elbows with everyone from Leonardo da Vinci to Walt Disney. It’s even rumored that Mother Goose started the Italian Renaissance after throwing a killer party in Florence.

  Despite all the drama she causes, Mother Goose knows how to have a good time. She teaches the Bailey twins that no matter how dangerous a situation may be, you can always walk away with a good story.

  MOTHER GOOSE:

  SPECIES: Nonspecific

  BIRTHPLACE: Secretive

  OCCUPATION: Nobody really knows

  TRADEMARK: Inappropriateness

  NEVER WITHOUT: A flask

  LESTER

  Lester is a horse-sized gander and Mother Goose’s companion. She won his egg in a card game, and once he hatched and grew to his enormous size, he became her favorite mode of transportation. Sometimes when Mother Goose is away, Lester likes to dress up in her bonnets and fly around—which is why many people in the Otherworld believe Mother Goose is an overgrown goose herself.

  LESTER:

  SPECIES: Gander

  BIRTHPLACE: Mother Goose’s cabin

  OCCUPATION: Transportation services/confidant

  TRADEMARK: Judgment

  NEVER WITHOUT: Opinions

  TROLLBELLA

  Trollbella has the mind of a ruthless dictator but the heart of a lovesick teenager—a very dangerous combination. After large rocks mysteriously fall on the Troll and Goblin Kings, Trollbella inherits the throne of their underground territory. She’s determined to bring class back to the troll and goblin species and forces her people to bathe and spend hours each day learning rigorous dance routines.

  Trollbella has been in love with Conner since the moment she laid eyes on him. She lovingly refers to him as her Butterboy—which sends shivers down his spine every time she says it.

  SPECIES: Troll

  BIRTHPLACE: The Troll and Goblin Territory

  OCCUPATION: Queen

  TRADEMARK: Lust

  NEVER WITHOUT: Butterboy

  JOHN BAILEY

  John Bailey was Alex and Conner’s father and the Fairy Godmother’s son. He was very passionate about fairy tales and raised the twins on the lessons and morals that the stories teach. Although it’s kept a complete secret from the twins at first, John was born and raised in the Land of Stories. It was always his dream to take his children to his home one day; unfortunately, he never got the chance. John passed away shortly before the twins’ eleventh birthday.

  During their first visit to the fairy-tale world, the twins follow a journal that helps them collect items for the legendary Wishing Spell. Eventually they learn that their father wrote the journal, and therefore they get to experience the Land of Stories with him after all.

  SPECIES: Human/fairy

  BIRTHPLACE: The Fairy Kingdom

  OCCUPATION: Father/storyteller

  TRADEMARK: Adventure

  NEVER WITHOUT: A good story

  CHARLOTTE BAILEY

  Charlotte is Alex and Conner’s mom and a nurse at the local children’s hospital. She is a wonderful and courageous mother and would do anything for her children. She works tirelessly to support her family following her husband’s death, but eventually she finds love again and marries Dr. Bob Gordon.

  Sometimes hearing about her children’s magical adventures can be a little much for Charlotte, so the twins have to abbreviate the details to prevent her from panicking. Having such a capable son and daughter fills Charlotte with pride, but she enjoys it when they still need her from time to time.

  SPECIES: Human

  BIRTHPLACE: The Otherworld

  OCCUPATION: Nurse

  TRADEMARK: Concern

  NEVER WITHOUT: Nursing scrubs

  DR. BOB GORDON

  Dr. Bob Gordon is Alex and Conner’s caring stepfather. He’s a surgeon at the children’s hospital where Charlotte works. Having lost a spouse himself, Bob has a lot in common with Charlotte, and they comfort each other through their grief. Eventually that comfort turns into romance, and the two become engaged.

  At first the twins aren’t sure how they feel about their mother remarrying, but time after time, Bob proves his devotion to his family by risking his life to protect them. Joining a new family is always a difficult task—especially a magical family—but Bob has never complained and is always there when the twins need him.

  SPECIES: Human

  BIRTHPLACE: The Otherworld

  OCCUPATION: Surgeon

  TRADEMARK: Adaptability

  NEVER WITHOUT: A stethoscope

  BREE CAMPBELL

  Bree is Conner’s classmate and his first crush. She enjoys reading mystery novels and likes to write her own short stories, too. When Conner goes on an excursion across Europe to save the fairy-tale world, Bree volunteers to accompany him and proves to be the perfect companion. After visiting the Land of Stories and learning that Conner’s family comes from magic blood, Bree begins asking questions about her own family. She discovers there’s magic in her family’s blood, too, and that they’re part of a centuries-old secret society known as the Sisters Grimm.

  SPECIES: Human

  BIRTHPLACE: The Otherworld

  OCCUPATION: Student/writer/future US senator

  TRADEMARK: Problem solving

  NEVER WITHOUT: Headphones

  EMMERICH HIMMELSBACH

  Emmerich is a German boy Conner and Bree meet by chance. He helps them sneak into Neuschwanstein Castle and access a secret portal that leads into the fairy-tale world. Over time, Emmerich learns that his encounter with Conner and Bree wasn’t as accidental as it appeared. He discovers he’s the secret son of the Masked Man and Bo Peep and that his mother took him to Germany to protect him from his father. Later, Emmerich is kidnapped by witches and used in a gruesome plot to control his father and the army of literary villains that the Masked Man is recruiting.

  SPECIES: Human

  BIRTHPLACE: The Center Kingdom (formerly known as the Red Riding Hood Kingdom)

&nb
sp; OCCUPATION: Curious child

  TRADEMARK: Curiosity

  NEVER WITHOUT: A question

  MRS. PETERS

  Mrs. Peters is the Bailey twins’ sixth-grade teacher, who later becomes their principal. In the beginning, Mrs. Peters and Conner don’t get along and she constantly sends him to detention for misbehaving in class. As time goes on, though, Mrs. Peters discovers Conner’s writing talent and encourages him to develop it. Shortly after retiring, Mrs. Peters confesses that Conner is her favorite student—not because he got the best grades, but because of the progress he made over the years.

  SPECIES: Human

  BIRTHPLACE: The Otherworld

  OCCUPATION: Teacher/principal

  TRADEMARK: Encouragement

  NEVER WITHOUT: A detention slip

  ROOK ROBINS

  Rook lives on a farm with his father, Farmer Robins, in the Eastern Kingdom. He becomes friends with Alex while she’s training to become the Fairy Godmother’s apprentice. The two become very close, and Rook is Alex’s first kiss.

  Alex makes the mistake of trusting Rook with a big secret, and unfortunately, he betrays her in order to save his father. Rook spends the rest of his life trying to make it up to her.